I love baking, especially over the weekend when life is a little slower paced and blissfully free from the rigidity of routine. Being a self-confessed foodie and coming from a family of foodies, the weekend’s meal plan has always been of great importance to me! I like to make something a little different from the norm for breakfast or I’ll cook with my other half on a Saturday evening. It’s a good time for us to chat about the week ahead and enjoy a glass of wine while we’re at it.

From time to time I may share a recipe or two on the blog, but I will also take the opportunity to display my baked wares in some of my favourite tableware and any new pieces I pick up along the way. Where possible, the source of any items used for food styling will be noted. (more…)

As a family, we are very privileged to live in a city that proudly boasts one of the top farmer’s markets in the UK & Ireland, St George’s Market. We have loved bringing the kids there most weekends since they were very little and it’s been fantastic to watch “our wee market” and its weekly traders thrive over the years. In recent years people have become much more aware of the importance of organic ‘clean’ eating and I suppose buying from a local market allows us a degree of control in knowing where the produce has come from and how it has been produced. It follows that farmer’s markets have now become almost fashionable to be seen shopping in and therefore it’s not entirely surprising that there is a certain trend for all things natural, organic and recycled which has emerged in the home decor department (you knew there’d be a link to home interiors here somewhere…!)

It has inspired me to source some wholesome homewares for your perusal… so take a peek! (more…)

I wanted to write a post about styling your front door because it’s an area of the home that can often be overlooked in terms of maintenance and décor, yet it is so important because it really can transform the entire look of your home. It’s also the first impression a visitor has upon arrival – when we approach a front door we’re already subconsciously forming some sort of opinion about the owner’s home and how it reflects their personality.

Spring is the perfect time to give the front of our home a quick refresh, but with today’s busy schedules, we don’t all have bags of time to spend doing it. So how do we create that fabulous first impression of our home, and quickly? Here are some easy and instant updates you can make over a weekend to show your front door a bit of love and bump up the kerb appeal while you’re at it.

I really am in love with the current trend for all things copper. From blush to rose gold, this pretty pink-tinted metal just about goes with anything and everything and it adds a luscious warmth to your interior scheme in a way that just isn’t possible with other cooler, ‘black’ metallics such as steel and iron. Don’t get me wrong, these big metals are equally fabulous and will stand the test of time in more ways than one, but for the moment I am lusting after those warm coppery hues.

A copper accessory, when paired with other softer decor pieces, will add a certain edginess to the overall look, such as a shiny copper pendant lamp sitting alongside a pale pastel blue sofa. Equally, it has the ability to soften the harsh lines and dark tones of a heavily industrial interior. Adding copper accents to an otherwise neutral interior will warm things up, though that said, it happily lends its rosy gleam to a surprising number of other colour schemes, including teal, black, monochrome, muted pastels and the classic all white. (more…)

I’m back after a bit of a break and hope you’ve all had a lovely, peaceful and relaxing start to the month of May! We had lots of time together as a family over May Day weekend, just the five of us, not trying to fit too much in and not trying to see everyone humanly possible in the space of three days… and do you know what, it was really soul-soothing!

Anyway, after lots of time to think about the blog (of course), I am back and ready to throw some new ideas and thoughts around for you.

Recently with the kids getting bigger I have often struggled trying to make the most out of the space available to us (and I’m sure I’m not alone in saying this)! Friends and family have marvelled at how we’ve “done so well” in our wee house with three little ones and how the place doesn’t feel cluttered. I suppose it’s partly been because I’m a naturally pretty tidy person and like to have everything organised. I get sadly excited at the prospect of filling a new bookcase (after the initial excitement of building it – yes I know, I need to get a life) and Ikea is a pure heaven for me with its wonderful array of boxes, shelving, memo boards, storage systems etc etc. (You get the picture). However, I do believe that to be well organised in your home you need to be creative in your approach too, so I’d like to share some of the ways I have utilised small corners and spaces in my own home to better practicalise the space as a whole.

We might have been bombarded with four seasons in one day here lately (it’s seriously freezing out there), but this has simply made me more determined to bring a touch of summer sunshine into the home! The high street homeware departments are now full of uplifting and zingy ideas to help you haul your home out of the dark, woolly depths of winter and into the summer sunshine. However, do not fear! A complete design overhaul of your interior will not be required; just a few thoughtful touches such as a new rug, colourful cushions, some pretty cups or glassware will reinvigorate your love for your home.

So, what are the key trends for Summer 2015 and how can we mould them into our existing décor? (more…)

Upon visiting my local library recently, I discovered an enticing range of gorgeous new hardback books which had been placed on display as new titles available to borrow. Their beautifully styled cover graphics, smooth matte feel and on-trend subject matters set them apart as definitive ‘coffee table books’ and of course I was soon marching out of the library with an armful piled high for my solitary perusal later that evening accompanied by a chilled glass of something nice.

Wikipedia defines a coffee table book as: “an oversized, usually hard-covered book whose place is for display on a table intended for use in an area in which one would entertain guests and from which it can act to inspire conversation”

Couldn’t disagree with that. Coffee table books should also reflect the home owner’s personality and interests – after all they are there to inspire and stimulate conversation and there needs to be a good solid interest in the subject to begin with, no? In this age of online pin boards and instant snaps, it’s a refreshing treat to curl up with a good heavy book and pore over the beautifully photographed images, read the stories behind them and be inspired by what you see in your own time and with no other distractions. (more…)

Ten years ago (and before the arrival of children), we bought a decent sized three bed semi into which the two of us and our joint belongings fitted just nicely. Jump forward to today and three children later and it has become a much ‘cosier’ fit, in fact you could say we’re overspilling!

Not entirely surprising then that we recently took the big decision to put our beloved home on the market with a view to moving our little family somewhere more spacious and better suited to our growing needs. So, as well as being engulfed in the process of constantly tidying and prepping the house for prospective buyers, I’ve been busy viewing potential properties to buy. Well… it’s certainly been an eye opener for me as to how many perfectly good houses out there are in dire need of a little time and love to bring them bang up to date. A lick of paint here and a declutter there would not go amiss yet many people simply do not realise that giving your home a simple refresh will not only in all probability increase their home’s overall market value, but more importantly, will make it a much better place to live.

Anyway… looking at houses and preparing my own home for sale has made me think a lot about how we can easily and effectively update our own homes within a budget. Making those little changes that renew our love for a space we spend so much of our lives in. (more…)

Hi my name’s Keira and welcome to my blog Dekko Bird. Firstly, a tiny bit about me. I’m in my thirties, married with three little ones – Miss H, Mr J and Miss A – who I look after at home in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

I have always felt strongly about the importance of ‘making your house a home’ and part of my job of being a stay-at-home-mum is to make our wee nest a comforting, safe and welcoming place to be, all the while playing about with the interior to keep things fresh, fun and reflective of our family’s personality! So it comes as no surprise then that (after much deliberation with myself) I have decided to start this blog primarily focused around my love of interior design and decoration, a place where I will share my collective thoughts and discoveries with other like minded people, but with a few snippets of home making, crafts, arts and daily life thrown in. I have a vague idea of the direction I would like this to go in but it’s only by actually putting pen to paper fingers to keyboard that I can begin this little adventure in earnest…

I will be updating and adding to my Instagram and Facebook pages on a regular basis, but please also check out my Pinterest page for some home inspiration too.

I do hope you’ll join me to watch my journey unfold as I have a lot to share! K x

Posts navigation

follow my blog

Hi! My name's Keira and welcome to Dekko Bird, a space where I share my love for interior design and affordable home styling. I'm an interiors stylist, writer and blogger based in Belfast with my husband and three children. It's lovely to meet you x